South Holland approves vehicle-tax rise, adding up to nearly €11 a year for some drivers

South Holland’s provincial assembly has approved an inflation-linked rise in the provincial part of vehicle tax, despite opposition parties’ attempt to block it. The increase means car owners will pay between just over €2 and nearly €11 more a year, depending on the vehicle, according to ANP reporting published by Nieuws.nl.

The rise applies to *opcenten*, the surcharge provinces add to the national vehicle tax. South Holland’s finance deputy, Robert Tieman, said the province would miss out on €11 million to €13 million a year if the tax were not adjusted for inflation.

The province expects to collect €510 million in vehicle tax next year, €20 million more than this year. The report says that increase also reflects a growing number of cars. It gives annual increases of just over €2 for a compact city car, more than €6 for a mid-sized car and nearly €11 for an SUV.

South Holland has the highest provincial surcharge, the report says. JA21 politician Thom van Vugt argued that it had risen sharply in recent years, from a stable 90 per cent to 106.3 per cent, and called the increase an unnecessary extra burden for motorists.

The assembly approved the outgoing provincial executive’s final budget by 41 votes to 12. The Netherlands’ provincial elections are due on 17 March. The budget also allocates money to, among other things, The Hague’s Liberation Festival, ferry services and digital autonomy.